NEWSPAPERS PROVIDE RECORD OF OUR LIVES

This week is National Newspaper Week, an annual observance through which newspaper groups around the country promote the importance of local newspapers, such as the one you are reading right now.

The Southeast Missourian is proud to join in the observance, whose theme this year is "It all starts with newspapers."

Indeed, that gets right to the heart of our business.

Beginning with a birth announcement, newspapers start their coverage of people's lives at the earliest event. That coverage continues throughout a person's life, recording accomplishments, sometimes failures, milestones and finally, death.

As a keeper of the stories of a community, the newspaper is there from the start to the finish. It remains the only effective instrument for keeping the record of a community.

The newspaper's coverage of meetings and events, investigative journalism that uncovers important issues and strong opinion pieces that offer points of view and courses of action often are the starting point of discussions within a community.

As recorders of activities large and small within the community, as the community's watchdog and often spokesperson, a newspaper plays a crucial role in day-to-day life of every community. Most projects are launched when objectives and fund-raising goals are announced in the newspaper, educating readers about the need that has been identified and telling them how they can get involved.

Consumers turn to the newspaper to study advertisements and promotions placed by local merchants. When searching for a new home or attempting to sell a house, people find newspaper advertising works best. The classified section of the newspaper is the first source for people looking for employment.

Many people develop a lifelong love of reading by picking up a newspaper each day to find out about the important news, follow the progress of their favorite teams, check out the views of columnists or to read their favorite comics.

Through our YELL (Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning) campaign, the Southeast Missourian promotes literacy and citizenship in the schools throughout the year. The annual YELL newspaper sales also help fund the Newspapers In Education program, which provides area teachers with free newspapers to aid in classroom education.

Coincidentally, the Southeast Missourian celebrated its 95th year of publication on Saturday. For almost a century, this newspaper has published a record of the events in Cape Girardeau and the region and will continue to do so for many, many years to come in an effort to keep the citizenry informed.

A good newspaper offers something for everyone, and that is one of our goals. And a free press is what our democracy is all about.